IMPACT: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning. Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter 2020

Explicitly established to foreground interdisciplinary teaching and learning, Impact also welcomes evidence and discussion of experiential learning. Often the two – interdisciplinary teaching and experiential learning – co-exist. Yet even when they do not, both practices model how to think in myriad ways and to notice how knowledge is constructed. As our winter 2019 issue makes clear, interdisciplinary teaching and learning and experiential learning often begin with questions. Why does it matter that students grapple directly with archival material? What happens when undergraduates practice psychology by training dogs? Do students understand financial literacy? This issue also asks questions about students’ reading habits and faculty expectations of them as readers

Relating Teaching Qualifications and Basic Need Satisfaction in Medical Teaching

Contains fulltext : 182164.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)INTRODUCTION: Teaching Qualifications (TQs) have been implemented in University Medical Centers, but their relation to teachers’ motivation for medical teaching is unknown. Because teacher motivation influences important outcomes, it is crucial to study how TQs are related to promoting teacher motivation, by fulfilling the basic needs of feeling autonomous, competent, and related towards medical teaching. AIMS: To explore relations between TQs and feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness towards medical teaching. METHODS: An online questionnaire was used to collect data about teaching at a university hospital. We measured feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness towards medical teaching using the Teaching-related Basic Need Satisfaction scale (T-BNS). We applied multivariate regression analysis to examine relations between TQs and basic need satisfaction in teaching. RESULTS: A total of 767 medical teachers participated. TQs appear to be related to feeling competent in teaching. Higher TQ levels are not related to higher feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness towards medical teaching. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that appealing to non-qualified teachers’ feelings of competence towards medical teaching may stir up their enthusiasm for TQ policy. They also call for robust teaching positions to build teaching experience, preferably as early as possible, and for assessing the importance applicants attach to education in job interviews

Application of the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) to office based workers

Background The workplace is a setting where sedentary behaviour is highly prevalent. Accurately measuring physical activity and sedentary behaviour is crucial to assess the impact of behavioural change interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and criterion validity of the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) and compare with data collected by accelerometers. Methods A test-retest study was undertaken on 99 participants using the OSPAQ. Data were then compared to accelerometer records of 41 participants. Reliability was assessed by paired t-test and intra-class correlations (ICC) via a two-way mixed model based on absolute agreement. Difference and agreement were measured by comparison of mean self-reported data with accelerometer data using the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots. Results The ICCs for minutes spent sitting (0.66), standing (0.83) and walking (0.77) showed moderate to strong test-retest reliability. No significant differences were found between the repeated measurements taken seven days apart. Correlations with the accelerometer readings were moderate. The Bland-Altman plots showed moderate agreement for standing time and walking time but systematic variation for sedentary time. Conclusion The OSPAQ appears to have acceptable reliability and validity measurement properties for application in the office workplace setting

Relax "Vitality in Practice" (VIP) project and design of an RCT to reduce the need for recovery in office employees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is strong evidence to suggest that multiple work-related health problems are preceded by a higher need for recovery. Physical activity and relaxation are helpful in decreasing the need for recovery. This article aims to describe (1) the development and (2) the design of the evaluation of a daily physical activity and relaxation intervention to reduce the need for recovery in office employees.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study population will consist of employees of a Dutch financial service provider. The intervention was systematically developed, based on parts of the Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol. Assessment of employees needs was done by combining results of face-to-face interviews, a questionnaire and focus group interviews. A set of theoretical methods and practical strategies were selected which resulted in an intervention program consisting of Group Motivational Interviewing (GMI) supported by a social media platform, and environmental modifications. The Be Active & Relax program will be evaluated in a modified 2 X 2 factorial design. The environmental modifications will be pre-stratified and GMI will be randomised on department level. The program will be evaluated, using 4 arms: (1) GMI and environmental modifications; (2) environmental modifications; (3) GMI; (4) no intervention (control group). Questionnaire data on the primary outcome (need for recovery) and secondary outcomes (daily physical activity, sedentary behaviour, relaxation/detachment, work- and health-related factors) will be gathered at baseline (T0), at 6 months (T1), and at 12 months (T2) follow-up. In addition, an economic and a process evaluation will be performed.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Reducing the need for recovery is hypothesized to be beneficial for employees, employers and society. It is assumed that there will be a reduction in need for recovery after 6 months and 12 months in the intervention group, compared to the control group. Results are expected in 2013.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): NTR2553</p

Water-Soluble Iron Porphyrins as Catalysts for Suppressing Chlorinated Disinfection Byproducts in Hypochlorite-Dependent Water Remediation

We are facing a world-wide shortage of clean drinking water which will only be further exacerbated by climate change. The development of reliable and affordable methods for water remediation is thus of utmost importance. Chlorine (which forms active hypochlorites in solution) is the most commonly used disinfectant due to its reliability and low cost. One drawback is that it reacts with organic pollutants to generate toxic chlorinated byproducts. To mitigate chlorination in water remediation, we have investigated the use of catalytic amounts of charged water-soluble iron porphyrins. These are known to activate hypochlorite to generate high valent oxoiron species. We studied the depletion of the model micropollutant phenol and the accumulation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts under water remediation conditions, using iron porphyrins [(TMPyP)FeCl]Cl4 and (NH4)4[(TPPS)FeCl] as catalysts, by membrane inlet mass spectrometry. Despite bearing opposite charges on the meso-substituent, both iron porphyrins suppress the formation of chlorinated disinfection by-products equally well. To gain further insight, spectroscopic studies were performed. These showed the transient formation of Compound II, followed by either regeneration of the iron(III) porphyrin at low NaOCl concentrations, or total decomposition of the porphyrin complex at high NaOCl concentrations. Potential future directions for modifications of porphyrin-based catalysts are discussed.</p

The effects of a controlled worksite environmental intervention on determinants of dietary behavior and self-reported fruit, vegetable and fat intake

BACKGROUND: Eating patterns in Western industrialized countries are characterized by a high energy intake and an overconsumption of (saturated) fat, cholesterol, sugar and salt. Many chronic diseases are associated with unhealthy eating patterns. On the other hand, a healthy diet (low saturated fat intake and high fruit and vegetable intake) has been found important in the prevention of health problems, such as cancer and cardio-vascular disease (CVD). The worksite seems an ideal intervention setting to influence dietary behavior. The purpose of this study is to present the effects of a worksite environmental intervention on fruit, vegetable and fat intake and determinants of behavior. METHODS: A controlled trial that included two different governmental companies (n = 515): one intervention and one control company. Outcome measurements (short-fat list and fruit and vegetable questionnaire) took place at baseline and 3 and 12 months after baseline. The relatively modest environmental intervention consisted of product information to facilitate healthier food choices (i.e., the caloric (kcal) value of foods in groups of products was translated into the number of minutes to perform a certain (occupational) activity to burn these calories). RESULTS: Significant changes in psychosocial determinants of dietary behavior were found; subjects at the intervention worksite perceived more social support from their colleagues in eating less fat. But also counter intuitive effects were found: at 12 months the attitude and self-efficacy towards eating less fat became less positive in the intervention group. No effects were found on self-reported fat, fruit and vegetable intake. CONCLUSION: This environmental intervention was modestly effective in changing behavioral determinant towards eating less fat (social support, self-efficacy and attitude), but ineffective in positively changing actual fat, fruit and vegetable intake of office workers